Shell reloading machine



25, 1936- c. R. PETERSON SHELL RELOADING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 2 3 n v en tor 624E120: .zPPfifPSO/ (Ittorneg Feb. 25,1936.

c. R. PETERSON 2,031,850

SHELL RELOADI NG MACHINE Filed July 10, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zia.

"ill/11117717 3nventor (Ittorneg Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to shell re-loading machines, and the objects of myinvention are:

First, to provide a machine of this class which is particularly suitedfor the sportsman who desires to manufacture or reload his rifle orpistol shells;

Second, to provide a machine of this class which is fool proof in thatthe machine becomes locked against operation should the shells not beshifted after a charge of powder has been delivered, thus reducing to aminimum the danger of overloaded shells;

Third, to provide a machine of this class which incorporates a simplebut novel means of measuring the charge of powder for the shells whereinthe means is vibrated with receiving and discharging its load so as'toinsure uniform loading of the shell;

Fourth, to provide a machine of this class which simultaneously performsthe several functions required in the re-loading process, thus theexploded cap is removed, a new cap is inserted, powder is delivered, theend of the shell is enlarged to receive the bullet and a bullet ispositioned with each operation of the machine, the several operationstaking place on a series of shells carried bythe machine, thus providingin a simple machine an arrangement whereby the shells may be readily andquickly re-loaded;

Fifth, to provide a machine of this class which is automatically haltedin its operation as soon as the supply of caps is exhausted;

Sixth, to provide 'a machine of this class which may be adapted forthere-loading of practically every type of .rifie, shotgun or pistolshell in commen use; Seventh, to provide a machine of this class inwhich all the operations thereof are accomplished by a single movementof a lever and wherein the operating elements are so arranged that theymay be carried by a common support; and

Eighth, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed shell re-loadingmachine which is simple of manufacture, proportional to its functions,durable, efficient in its action, and will not readily deteriorate orget out or order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure l is afront elevational viewof my shell re-loading machine withthe operating elements shown in raised position, Fig. 2 is another side5 elevational view taken at right angles to Fig. '1 with parts andportions broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration andshowing by dotted lines lower position of the operating elements, Fig. 3is a sectional view through 33 of 10 Fig. 1 looking upwardly towards theoperating elements, Fig. 4 is another sectional view. through 4-4 ofFig. 1 looking downwardly, Fig. '5 is a large fragmentary sectional viewthrough 55 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view 15 through66 of Fig. 1, and Fig. '7 is a developed View following a peripheralline passing through the centers of the several operating elements.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the several views 2Q of the drawings.

Base member I table 2, post 3, shell registering plate 4, nut 5, supportmember 6, end fitting "I, shaft 8, operating handle 9, arms In, pin ll,links l2, pin 13, spring l4, cap inserting meoha- 5 nism l5, capejecting member l6, shell centering member l1, cap inserting pin l8,lever l9, connecting pin 29, spring 2|, slide bar 22, cap reservoirstack 23, weight member 24, lever '25, spring 26, cam tongue 21, powdersupplying nozi zle 28, powder receptacle 29, slide bar 30, spring 3!,cam bracket 32, spring 33, crimping member 34, bullet spacing screw 35,centering pin 36, stop member 31, bracket 38, spring 39, and catch means40 constitute the principal parts and portions of my novel shellre-loading machine.

The machine is mounted upon a circular base member I. Centrally disposedupon the base member I is a table 2 substantially in the form of a shortcylinder closed at its upper side. Sup- 4 ported from the base memberand the table, and extended upwardly therefrom in centered relationtherewith, is a post 3.

The closed upper side of the table is flat and pierced by apertures toreceive the necessary mechanism, to be described hereinafter. The uppermargin of the table 2 is provided with a low rim 2d. J ournaled aboutthe base of the post 3 so as to ride upon the table and fitting withinthe rim 2a is a shell registering plate 4. The shell registering plateis provided with a series of slots do out radially therein from itsperiphery. Six of such slots are provided. Between the several slots 4aare apertures 4b, the purpose of which will be brought out hereinafter.The shell registering plate 4 is held in place by a nut 5.

Above the shell registering plate, the post 3 slidably receives asupport member 6 which is keyed in a non-rotatable relation therewith.The support member 6 comprises a sleeve portion 6a and a flange Eb atits lower portion.

The upper end of the post 3 is provided with an end fitting l which isprovided with a bore traversing the end of the post 3, and adapted toreceive a shaft 8. One end of the shaft 8 is provided with an operatinghandle or lever B. Adja cent the lateral ends of the end fitting l ismounted a pair of arms ill which extend forwardly, that is in thedirection of the user, and pivotally ccnnect by means of a pin l! to apair of links !2. The links l2 extend downwardly to opposite sides of abearing formed on the side of the sleeve portion 6a with its axisextending horizontally. The bearing 60 receives a pin is which is joinedto the links l2 as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2.

The end fitting l is provided with an upwardly extending arm la to theextremity of which is attached a spring i l. The spring it extendsdownwardly along the rear side of the sleeve 8a and is suitably attachedto the flange 62). The spring I l holds the support 6 in its upper position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The flange 6b of the support carries a set or series of tools or otherdevices used in re-loading rifle shells. At some point, preferably atthe left hand portion of the front side of the machine, the rim 2a isnotched, as indicated by 2b. The several slots 4a are of sufficient sizeto receive snugly the shank Fl of a shell F. The under sides of theslots 4a are enlarged so as to form with the top of the table 2, shellrim receiving faces 40. Thus when the shell registering plate isrotated, the shells are held in an upright position within the severalslots 4a. When any one of the slots la register with the notch-portion2b, the adjacent hole or aperture db (to the right as viewed in Figs. 1and '7) is in a registry with an operating bar l5 for the cap insertingmechanism. The operating bar i 5 is carried by the flange Eb and isadapted to operate through the aperture upon the cap insertingmechanism, to be described hereinafter.

Continuing to the right or in a clock-wise direction, the next slot 4aregisters with a cap ejecting member I6 which is likewise supported fromthe flange 6a, as shown best in Fig. '7. The member 16 comprises arelatively deep annular channel a l6a formed in its lower end which isadapted to receive the shank Si of the shells. The inner portion or coreformed by the annular channel l6a terminates in a pin l6?) which isadapted to pass through a small aperture S3 formed in the base of theshell and which separates the cap remember performs two functions: one,to aline the shell with the cap inserting mechanism, and the other, tospread the extremity of the shell so that a bullet may be readilyinserted therein. For the latter purpose the upper portion of the memberI! adjacent its connection with the flange portion I la. This portionengages and spreads the extremity of the shell when the support 6 islowered to its extreme position, which is slightly downward of theposition shown in Fig. 7.

Below and in axial alinement with the shell centering member if is a capinserting pin l8. The pin it is journaled in a sleeve 2d formed in theunder side of the table 2. The pin l8 comprises a smaller diameteredportion Illa and a larger diametered portion lfib, and the sleeve 20! isshaped to conform. Said smaller diametered portion is approximatelyequal in diameter to that of the cap C. The cap inserting pin l8cooperates with a cap inserting mechanism, which will be describedhereinafter. The lower end of the pin it is engaged by one end of alever 19 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a horizontallydisposed pin 2e extending inwardly from the side wall of the table 2.The other arm of the lever is rests against the under side of connectingpin 29, which is mounted similar to the pin E8 in a sleeve 2;, formed inthe under side of the table 2. The sleeve 2 f is in alinement with theoperating bar l5, and the upper end of the pin 26 is exposed through theaperture db so as to be engaged by said pin when the support is moved toits lower extreme position. A spring 2| is provided which causes lever19 to bear upwardly against th pin 26), and allow the pin I8 to assumeits lower position, shown in Fig. 7.

At a point radially outwardly from the pin [8, the table 2 is providedwith a bracket 29. The bracket 2g is provided with a horizontal upperface having a radially extending channel in which fits a slide bar 22.Mounted over the slide bar 22, outwardly from the shell registeringplate 4, is a cap reservoir stack 23, which is in the form of a longupwardly directed tube. The stack 23 is adapted to receive a pluralityof caps C, as shown best in Fig. 5; the stack having a bore ofsuiiicient diameter to snugly receive said caps. A weight member 25 inform of a relatively long pin rests against the upper-most cap C so asto ensure their proper feeding. The slide bar 22 is provided with anaperture 22a therein of suflicient diameter toreceive a cap 0, thethickness of the slide bar being equal to that of the cap 0. The slidebar 22 is adapted to move in such a manner that at one extremity of itsmovement, the aperture 22:: is opposite the stack 23, and at the otherextremity, said aperture is in alinement with the pin 58.

Operation of the slide bar is obtained through a lever 25 pivoted abouta vertical axis, at one side of and supported from, the bracket 29. The

lever 25 is in form of a bell crank with one arm 25a engaging a boss 22bprotruding upwardly from the slide bar, and the other arm 25b extendingsubstantially radially inwardly towards the table and engageable with acam tongue 21. The tongue 2'! is secured to the periphery of the rim orflange 5b and extends downwardly therefrom, as shown best in Figs. 1 and2. One side of the cam tongue 21 is bevelled so that downward movementof the support 6 causes the slide bar to move inwardly the desireddistance, and upon rising to the desired position, to remain there untilthe inserting operationis complete. The cam tongue shifts the lever 25in one direction while a suitably disposed spring 26 shifts the lever 25in. the other direction.

When the preceding elements are in alinement, the next shell supportedby the shell registering plate is in alinement with a powder sup- 6b isprovided with a diverging or frusto-conical plying nozzle 28, as shownbest in Figs. 2 and '7.

The powder supply nozzle 28 is also supported from the flange 6b, and isin alinement with an aperture 6d therein. The aperture 6d intersects alaterally extending slot 6e formed within a boss or enlargementprotruding upwardly from one portion of the flange 6b. In the laterallyoffsetrelation with the aperture Ed, said slotfie is intersected by anupwardly directed opening 6! adapted (to receive the lower end of thepowder receptacle 29 which extends upwardly along the side of the sleeveportion 6a and the fitting I, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2. The slot6e receives a slide bar 30. The slide bar 30 is provided with anaperture 30a therein, the thickness of the slide bar and size of theaperture 30a is such as to meter the proper quantity of powder foracharge; The slide bar is shiftable back and forth so as to register witheither the aperture Edor the opening 6 The slide 30 is held with theaperture 300. in registry with the opening 6f by means of a spring 3 I.When the support 6 is moved down, the slide bar is shifted against theaction of the spring 3| by means of a vertically disposed cam bracket32. For this purpose the outer extremity of the slide bar 30 is providedwith a roller 3% adapted to engage the bracket 32. Said cam bracket 32is supported from the base and extends upwardly therefrom. Its upperextremity is provided with a cam face paralleling the axes of the post 3and provided with a plurality of notches or serrations 32a. Below thisportion, the cam bracket slopes inwardly as indicated by 32?) so as tocause the desired movement of the slide bar 30. At the lower extremityof this portion, the cam bracket is provided with a second series ofnotches 32c engageable by the slide bar when the support is in the lowerposition, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. These notches cause vibrationof the slide bar and adjacent portions, and thereby ensure completefilling and discharge of the aperture 30a, and uniformity in thequantity of the charge delivered to the shell.

Opposite the slot in alinement with the powder supplying nozzle 28 is anotch 2h similar to the notch 2b. This notch enables the shell to beremoved for inspection or other purposes. To prevent accidental removalof the shell at this point, there is provided a leaf spring 33,supported from the cam bracket 32 and engaging the protruding peripheryof the shell registering plate 4, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4.

The next slot 4a registers with a crimping member 34. Before the shellis moved into alinement with the crimping member 34, and after thepowder has been supplied, a bullet B is inserted a part way into theupper or open end of the shell, this being easily accomplished by reasonof the fact that this end of the shell has been widened or spread by theportion l'la of the centering member I'I. ber 34 is provided with arelatively deep socket 34a extending upwardly from its lower end, theside walls of which are provided intermediate therein with an inwardlycurved constriction 34b adapted to engage the extremity of the shellwhen the support is in its lower position. The socket 34a extends beyondthe constriction 34b sufliciently to receive the bullet B. Extendingdownwardly through the crimping member 34 in screw threaded relationtherewith is a bullet spacing screw 35, the lower end of which isadapted to engage the extremity of the bullet and forces it into theshe'll a fixed distance.

The next and last slot 4a alines with an aper- The crimping memture 27'provided in the top of the table 2 which slot also alines with acorresponding opening in the base member I. When the re-loaded shellshifts opposite this position, it drops downwardly away from the machineand may be caught in a suitable receptacle. The next adjacent aperture4b, which is the aperture between the last mentioned slot and the firstmentioned slot opposite the notch 21), is adapted to register with acentering pin 36, which is likewise supported from the flange 6b. Thecentering pin 36 is relatively long and adapted to co-act with anaperture 27c formed in the table 2 which accurately alines the severaloperating members with the several shells.

In order to prevent more than one operation of the machine, unless theseveral operating members have shells in registry therewith, andparticularly to prevent the introduction of more than one charge ofpowder into the shell, there is provided a' stop means which limits theaction of the support whenever a slot 40: passes into registry with thedischarged aperture 27' without carrying a shell. This is accomplishedby means of a stop member 31 which is in the form of a plate hingedabout a vertical axis on a bracket 38, as shown best in Fig. 4. Theplate or stop member 3'! is bifurcated at its extremity forming one arm311) which fits over the discharge opening 2 on top of the shellregistering plate 4, and a second arm 31b which fits over the centeringopening 270, thereby preventing entrance of the centering pin 36therein. However, when a shell engages arm 31a by reason of rotation ofshell registering plate 4, the stop member is forced against the actionof an over center spring 39 until the stop member shifts to the dottedline position, shown in Fig. 4, in which position a bevelled margin 310of said arm 31a is in alinement with the pin 36, particularly a bevelledside 36a of its extremity. Thereupon downward movement of the supportcauses the pin 36 to shift the stop plate back past the center, butallowing the centering pin to pass downward between the arms 31a and 31bas soon as the pin 36 is again raised, the stop member snaps back intoits position, shown by solid lines in Fig. 4 so that further action isstopped until the shell registering plate 4 is and in order tofacilitate alinement with the various members, there is provided asuitable catch means 40 mounted under the table 2 and engageable withthe several slots and apertures of the shell registering plate.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited tothis particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire toinclude in the scope of my invention the construction, combination andarrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shell re-loading machine, a table, a shell registering platerevolubly mounted thereon and adapted to carry a plurality of shells, areelprocable support mounted above said table and plate, a plurality ofelements for preparing and re-l-oading shells depending from saidsupport and arranged in a circle so as to register with a plurality ofshells held by said registering plate and act in concert thereupon whensaid support is reciprocated, and stop means including a portion carriedby said support, and a portion engageable by a shell when said plate isrevolved beyond the position assumed for completion of the re-loadingoperation, said stop means arranged to require rotation of saidregistering plate to advance the relation of the shells with respect tosaid element after each reciprocation of said support.

2. In a shell re-loading machine, a revoluble table adapted to support aplurality of shells, a supporting means mounted in reciprocal relationtherewith, tools for preparing and re-loading shells mounted on saidsupporting means, mechanism for shifting said supporting means andcausing simultaneous action of the several tools on the plurality ofshells supported by said table, and a stop means for limiting saidsupporting means against further movement after a reciprocation, saidstop means including a portion engageable by a shell when said table isrevolved beyond the final re-loading tool and shifted thereby to permita further reciprocation of said supporting means.

3. In a shell re-loading machine, a revoluble table adapted to support aplurality of shells, a supporting means mounted in reciprocal relationtherewith, a cap ejecting element, a centering element, a powderdispensing element, a bullet positioning and securing element allcarried by said supporting means, and arranged to act upon acorresponding series of shells carried by said table, a shell capinserting mechanism carried by said table, including a portion inregistry with said centering element, an operating element carried bysaid supporting means adapted to actuate said inserting mechanism, meansfor reciprocating said supporting means and causing concerted action ofthe several elements carried thereby, and a stop means for limiting saidsupporting means against further movement after a reciprocation, saidstop means including a portion engageable by a shell when said table isrevolved beyond said bullet positioning and securing element and shiftedthereby to permit further reciprocation of said supporting means.

4. The combination with a shell re-loading machine having a table and atool support carrying the several shell preparing and re-loading toolsarranged to act simultaneously upon a plurality of shells carried bysaid table, of a powder dispenser carried by said tool supportincluding, a receptacle, a duct adapted to discharge into a shellcarried by said table, and an apertured slide bar adapted to registerwith the bottom of said receptacle of said duct, a bracket cam supportedfrom said table for shifting said slide bar upon reciprocation of saidtool support, and means associated with said cam for causing vibrationof said slide bar when in registry with said receptacle and said ductfor facilitating flow of powder into and out of the aperture of saidslide bar.

5. In a shell re-loading machine, a table adapted to support a pluralityof shells, a supporting means mounted in reciprocal relation therewith,tools for preparing and re-loading shells mounted on said supportingmeans, and mechanism for shifting said supporting means and causingsimultaneous action of the several tools on the plurality of shellssupported by said table, said tools including, a powder dispensercomprising, a duct adapted to discharge into a shell carried by saidtable, and an apertured slide bar adapted to register with the bottom ofsaid receptacle or said duct, a bracket cam supported from said tablefor shifting said slide bar upon reciprocation of said supporting means,and means associated with said cam for causing vibration of said slidebar when in registry with said receptacle and said duct for facilitatingflow of powder into and out of the aperture of said slide bar.

CLARENCE R. PETERSON.

